Quote:
Originally posted by Bro2B
I think they would be very hard pressed to prove mandatory physical training is hazing. Now why do I say that?
Unless they had asthma or some other physical disability that prevented them from working out, it's something that is good for them. Running maybe a mile and a half a couple times a week isn't going to harm you, it will increase your lung capacity and make everyday living easier.
I just don't see how it could be hazing. Who wouldn't want to improve their fitness, their quality of life, and possibly even their social standing when they are in better shape and have much more confidence than they had for themselves previously?
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Well, depending on your national organization's, state or university laws, hazing does not necessarily have to cause harm to an individual. Some hazing policies also say no to "activities which cause emotional or physical discomfort" (which exercise could fall into). I know that forced working out would fall into the "hazing" category under my GLO's rules . . . you should check into yours before you decide to carry out the program.
Furthermore, as a runner, I can tell you that injuries (especially in those who aren't used to running) are commonplace. Not life-threatening ones, of course, but stress fractures can result from too much running, or sprained ankles from wearing the wrong shoes. There are pulled muscles, and tons of weird injuries from people who have uneven running strides. Practically every one of the 70 runners on my high school cross-country team was injured at some point during the season. And while you guys obviously wouldn't be running as much as a cross-country team and wouldn't be nearly as likely to get injured, the fact is that running injuries are very common, and can happen on as little as 5-10 miles a week if the person is predisposed to them, and the injuries aren't being supervised properly by some sort of athletic trainer.
And as for your last question . . . a lot of people, unfortunately, don't want to get in shape. If they all did, American wouldn't have such a problem with obesity. And if everybody wanted to be in shape, then they'd all be doing it on their own, and you wouldn't HAVE to have mandatory physical training, you know?
Like I said, I do think it's a good idea, but making it mandatory could very easily get you into legal trouble. It's much safer from a legal standpoint to make it optional and then just convince the guys to come with you -- 9 times out of ten, they'll probably say yes. And if you do really insist on making it mandatory, at least check with your fraternity's bylaws, your university rules and state laws to make sure that it won't conflict with them. Many hazing laws are more strict than you might think -- somebody doesn't have to get injured before it counts as hazing.
Like James said, if this is against some kind of law but nobody actually gets injured, you probably won't lose your charter or anything . . . but they'll probably find some kind of way to sanction you, be it fines or probation or whatever.